Tuesday, 5th May Atrium, 19,30, Croatian Cultural Centre on Sušak
Arterarij, Zagreb, Croatia
(www.arterarij.hr)
MATIJA
Direction and dramaturgy: Patrik Lazić, based on the novel by Drago Hedl
Cast: Doris Šarić Kukuljica, Dražen Bratulić, Davor Tarbuk
The autobiographical novel by one of Croatia’s most relevant investigative journalists and writers bears the name of his son, who committed suicide in 2018 at the age of 43, in the USA, where he spent most of his life working as a successful scientist at Yale University.
In 37 chapters, the father documents, without pathos, the 37 days it took due to bureaucratic indifference to return his son’s body to his hometown Osijek.
Looking for an answer to why the world becomes such an unbearable place, the play follows the structure of the novel through memories from Matija’s life. The play lends itself to original theatrical interpretations and solutions through which the novel gains its unique second life, this time on stage. After touching upon contemporary issues such as burnout syndrome, the tyranny of success, and the so-callled American dream, the performance ends with hope that this tragic experience can still serve as a means of better understanding of depression and suicide as well as help those who have gone through or will go through similar experiences.”
Press excerpt:
“The play Matija is a theatrical punch to the gut like you haven’t felt before. Arterarij and Patrik Lazić created a new elegy — theatre that does not act, but lives fully.”
Davor Špišić, Telegram